The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-01-29

No other verse IN the Scripture Con-
veys more sublime statement of fact
than this. No other carries more
tender and majestic appeal to the hui
man heart, when it is rightly under
stood. \
You also recall the fact that John
wrote this narrative late in life. There
is vividness in the scenery of our ear
ly years, and charm which invests the
objects and fellowships of long ago,
which are not possessed by recent
events. To the aged apostle at Ephe-
sus the glory of his Redeemer, as be-
held scores of years before, was not a
fading memory, but radiant and per-
petual light, abiding in his soul in in
effaceable distinctness. What was this
glory?
1. It was not the mere revelation of
the power of Christ, such as John and
others had witnessed in the miracles
wrought. That magisterial and super
natural sway over nature was, indeed,
awe-inspiring. So is the power seen in
storm, earthquake or lightning. There
was power in the imperial jealousy of
Saul amounting almost to insanity i'll
the infamous cruelty of Nero, who
burned Christians like fagots in his
garden; and in Tiberius, who polluted
fair Capri with his debauchery; and in
Philip II, who sent out armies to des-
troy the people Of God. Mere power,
without principle to guide or mercy to
moderate, is terrific to contemplate.
Conceive of one having unlimited sway
over the forces of nature and of mind,
who has no purity or goodness to guide
but only the vehemency of evil to i'm
pei, and you have the idea of hell on
earth No, it was not the mere power
that Christ welded that made him
glorious.
2. Nor was it the prodigious reach of
his intellect and thought. John knew
that regal mastery of truth which Christ
showed before the wondering eyes of
men as he opened the spiritual realm
to them and spoke as one who had au-
thority there as well as ON earth; who
was cognizant Of it, and who carried
the facts in his own consciousness. But
mere mental power Of genius may pan
der to pride, passion, injustice; max
ing itself more infamous by it's breadth
and brilliancy. Mind alone cannot win
love. Other elements must exist to
secure Immortality in the memory Of
man. remember seeing two busts in
a gallery at Naples. One was that of
Alcibiades, finished in all the brilliant
beauty and grace of Greek art, while
near by was the homely bust of Socra-
ties. The witty, polished, perfidious
seoundrel here faced the martyr teach
er of truth, "the John the Baptist of
the heather world" The philosopher
is remembered with grateful admira-
tion, for his was moral conservation.
He taught the truth as he understood
it. The other was brilliant and bad.
8. Nor was the glory on which John
dwelt the occasional splendor Of Christ's
person. AT his baptism, transfigura-
tion and ascension, the Son of God was
clothed with supernal glory. But, aside
from his moral excellence, this would
not hold our enduring and adoring con.
temptation. 1t might even enhance
our dread of him had we any doubt as
to his real moral character, just as the
regalia and pomp Iof royalty would be
terrible if associated with cruelty of
heart; or the ermine of judge if soil
ed by impurity and injustice. Should
an angel from heaven now enter this
house and stand before us as an accred-
tied messenger from heaven, we should
be appalled, if we were uncertain wheth-
er his was a merciful mission or not.
The glory of Christ was more than this.
1t was
4. The fulness of grace and truth,
the complete interfusion and indwelling
of fidelity, veracity, justice and right
eousness, white as light with gentle
ness, tenderness and compassion. 1t
was nobleness of moral character with
divine sympathy and unsearchable self
sacrifice. Even skepticism admits that
Christ's character is unique and upar-
alleled in history. Martyrs there were
before his day who were faithful to the
truth even to death but Christ pos
sessed all power, yet had no pride. He
did not use power in his own self-de-
fence when he might. He y loved
the lilies of the field, and the birds of
the air, and took children to his arms.
His knowledge was vast, but it was
made illustrious by the spirit with
which he used it. Fiction has had no
such ideal. The Greek idea of mag
nanimity is cold and sterile, but the
controlling temper Of Jesus illustrates
the religion he taught. His life is the
greatest miracle of history, a miracle
that makes all his other miracles credi.
BILE. And this radiance of his life in
the flesh is the light which is to fill the
whole earth.
A few lessons may be proftably
drawn from this theme.